Calculating machine



Nov. 13, 1934. c. M. F. FRIDEN CALCULATING MACHINE} Filed NOV. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. Car/ M. E Hide/7 ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1934. c. M. F. FRIDEN 1,980,579

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed' Nov. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Can M /I 572/677 A TTORNE Y Patented Nov. 13, 1934 CALCULATING MACHINE Carl M. F. Friden, Piedmont, CaliL, assignor to Marchant Calculating Machine Company, Emeryville, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 13, 1929, Serial No. 406,861

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to calculating machines, and particularly to the diilerential actuating means for the accumulators of such machines. In previous machines of this type,

either the actuator itself, or a controlling selector therefor, has been moved difierentially by ,the operation of the keys of the keyboard to determine the extent of actuation of the numeral wheels by the actuator. Such an arrangement not only places a heavy load on the keys of the keyboard, but requires the provision of a locking means adapted to function while the actuator is in operation to retain the parts in their set position.

According to the present invention use is made of the same power which drives the actuator to determine the extent of engagement between such actuator and the numeral wheels, as controlled by the set up on the keyboard of the machine. Thus a considerable load is taken ofi the keys, lightening the touch thereof somewhat, and the necessity for a locking means for the actuator section is done away with, since the selection is held into the actuator by the operation thereof. The only work done by the keys is the positioning of a comparatively light controlling member for the new mechanism.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved difierential actuator for calculating machines.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved differential, selector mechanism for controlling the actuating mechanism of calculating machines.

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism whereby the differential selection is accomplished by the driving mechanism of the machine, as distinguished from the setting mechanism thereof.

40 Another object of the invention is the pro- 7 vision of a selectormechanism in which the controlling elements are moved into the plane of the actuator, rather than difierentially within the plane of the actuator, eliminating the mechanism normally provided for lockingthe selector mechanism against motion in the plane of the actuator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a key-set differential mechanism for calculating machines having a comparatively vention is described in the accompanyspecificati0n,and in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, of which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a detail of the actuator and selector mechanism as viewed from the right hand side of the machine. V

Figure 3 is a detail of the same mechanism as viewed from the left hand side of the machine.

Figure 4 is a detail of the selector mechanism viewed from the rear.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the selector mechanism "iewed from the front.

'Figme 6 is a section taken on line 6 of Figure 4.

Although the invention is hereafter described as embodied in a machine having a uni-directional actuator, with reversing gears between said actuator and the numeral wheels, it is to be understood that it is equally well adapted for use with a machine having a reversible actuator.

The actuator shaft 300 may be driven by any suitable means, and carries a plurality of actuator discs 430, one of which is provided for each denominational order. Each disc 430 supports an actuator segment 302, slidably attached thereto by means of a stud 303 fixed to the disc 430, and projecting through a slot in the segment 302. An aperture 304 in the segment surrounds the actuator shaft 300, and the segment is guided in its lateral motion on the discs 430 by rollers 305. A spring 306 compressed between opposite lugs formed on the .disc 430 and the segment 302 serves to normally hold the segment in its rearward, or inactive, position. When it is in this position the actuator may rotate without affecting the numeral wheels, but when the segment is projected to its forward position, it engages the gear 415, which is the terminal gear of the actuating train, to the numeral wheel 411. This train includes the gears 415 and 417, which are constantly in mesh, and obviously rotate in opposite directions, and the gears 412 and 413 mounted in the shiftable carriage 400, which are also constantly in mesh. The gear 413, however, is laterally shiftable within the carriage, to engage either of gears 417 or 415, which are laterally offset, so that the numeral wheels may be driven in either direction, while the actuator rotates only in one direction. A spring pressed pawl 330 cooperates with gear 417 and is controlled by disc 331 rigid-with the actuator, to lock the numeral wheels 'exceptin digitation, carrying and full cycle positions of the actuator, in which positions cut out portions of the disc underlie the tail of the pawl permitting it to be rocked by gear 417. a

Means are provided for causing the segment 302 to be projected for different portions of a cycle, so that by engaging the gear 415 for different times during the rotation of the actuator, it will serve to advance the numeral wheels 411 differential amounts. For this purpose a roller 310 is positioned at the tail of segment 302 to cooperate with the head 311 of such bell cranks 312 as are positioned in its path by the selection mechanism. In the present machine nine of these bell cranks 312 are pivoted on the rod 314 fixed to the frame, and are normally maintained in a plane outside of the plane of movement of roller 310 by individual springs 315. However, any number of these bell cranks 312, from one to all nine, may be rocked into the path of roller 310, and when so rocked will be effective to move the segment 302 forward on its sliding mount to engage the gear 415 and cause actuationof the numeral wheels 411. The extent of operation of the numeral wheels is thus directly proportional to the number of hell cranks positioned in the path of roller 310, since each holds the segment in its forward position for the period requisite to operate the numeral wheels through one increment.

The means for rocking the bell crank 312 comprises a slide 320 slidably and pivotally mounted on a stud 321, fixed to the frame. The upper end of the slide is loosely embraced by a slot formed in a pivoted gate 325, which is adapted to be rocked when the actuator is out of full cycle position by a lever 322 pivoted to the frame at 323, and having a second arm engaging a cam 324 fixed to the actuator shaft 300. The slide 320 is adapted to be moved vertically through the slot in gate 325 by the differential mechanism of the keyboard to be hereinafter described, and is provided with an extended edge 326 adapted to be moved opposite one or more of the bell crank tails 313-by the operation of the keyboard difierential mechanism. When the slide has been positioned by the depression of a key and the actuator started in rotation, cam 324 rocks lever 322, rocking gate 325 and carrying slide 320 against the tails of such bell cranks 312 as are opposite edge 326. These bell cranks thus rock, and their ends 311 move into the path of roller 310, carried on the actuator segment 302. The number of hell cranks 312 which will be rocked by the rocking of slide 320 depends upon the difierential vertical positioning of the said slide by the keyboard mechanism, since only those tails 313 which abut the extended edge 326 of the said slide 320 will be rocked.

The differential positioning of slide 320 is accomplished by means of a differential bar 350, slidably positioned beneath the keyboard and connected by means of link 351 to a bell crank 352 pivoted to the frame at 353, and provided in its second arm with a notch embracing the stud 354 on the lower end of slide 320. The spring 355 tensioned between an arm of hell crank 352 and the base of the machine, serves to normally hold the bar 350 in its rearward, or zero, position, and the silde 320 positioned as shown in Figure 1, where the edge 326 abuts none of the tails 313. The slide 350 is provided on its upper edge with a plurality of notches 356, there being one notch adjacent the stem of each numeral key. The notches are provided at their base with sockets ad acent each key stem adapted to recieve the end of the stem to accurately position the slide 350. The sides of the respective notches are inclined to different degrees to cause positive movement of the slide upon depression of the key, regardless of the prior position of the slide. One side of notch 356 isgiven an inclination corresponding to the value of the associated key, and the other side of the notch is given an inclination corresponding to the complement of the value of the associated key.

Depression, therefore, of any key causes positive movement of the slide to the proper differential position from the prior differential position in which it is held by a depressed key, thereby eliminating the necessity of returning the slide to zero position when a key is depressed after another key has already been depressed. The difierential slide, therefore, is positively moved, and the slide 320 is also positively moved to differential position upon the depression of any key. The keys 360 are slidably mounted between the cover plate 361 and strap 362 secured to said cover plate, and are normally ,held in elevated position by springs 363, compressed between the strap and a lug of each key stem. A locking plate 364 is slidably mounted on the lower side of this strap 362, and is normally held in its forward position by spring 365 compressed between the forward upturned portion of the latching plate and the strap. The key stems 360 pass through apertures in this latching plate, and are provided with struck out lugs 366 which cam thesaid plate to the rear as they pass, but serve to hold the key in depressed position by notching 1 0 against the under side of latch plate when it moves forward under the force of its spring after the lug has passed. The downwardly moving end of key stem 360 serves to operate the differential bar 350, which is slidably mounted 1 5 by a pin and slot, connection 367 uponears depending from strap 362.

Thus, depression of any key serves to differentially position the controlling slide 320, and upon rotation of the actuator this slide is rocked backwardly, rocking the number of bell cranks 312 corresponding to the value of the key depressed. The ends 311 of these bell cranks are thus brought into the path of the approaching roller 310, which rides up on such ends as are disposed in its path, forcing the segment 302 into engagement with gear 415 and rotating the numeral wheels 411 a number of increments equal to the number of bell crank ends disposed in the path of the roller 310. The direction of operation of the numeral wheels is determined, as hereinbefore pointed out, by the lateral positioning of the reversing gear 413.

While only one section of actuating mechanism has been herein described, it is understood 135 that any, number of the sections may be combined to produce a machine of the desired capacity, and that any suitable form of mechanism for carrying tens between the orders of the accumulator may be provided to operate in conjunction with the mechanism herein described.

While the preferred construction has been described in the foregoing specification, it is understood that the invention is capable of modification within the scope of the following 145 claims.

I claim:

1. Ina calculating machine, registering elements, an actuator therefor, driving mechanism for said actuator, and means for controlling opstep.

2. In a calculating machine, registering elements, an actuator therefor, driving mechanism for said actuator, means for controlling operation of said elements by said actuator comprising a plurality of devices each operable by said driving means to maintain said actuator in position to drive said elements through one step, and means for selecting varying numbers of said devices for operation by said driving means.

3. In a calculating machine, registering elements, an actuator therefor, driving means for said actuator, and means for controlling operation of said elements by said actuator comprising a plurality of devices controlled by said driving means and each operable to maintain said actuator in position to drive said elements through one step.

4. In a calculating machine, registering elements, an actuator therefor, driving means for said actuator, means for controlling operation of said elements by said actuator comprising a plurality of devices controlled by said driving means and each operable to maintain said actuator in position to drive said elements through one step, and means for differentially adjusting the control of said devices by said driving means.

5. In a calculating machine, registering elements, a rotatable actuator therefor movable into driving relation therewith, driving means for said actuator, and manually settable differentially adjustable means operable by said driving means to control the positioning of said actuator in driving relation with said elements.

6. In a calculating machine, registering elements, an actuator therefor, driving mechanism for said actuator, and means for controlling operation of said elements by said actuator comprising a plurality of devices movable by said mechanism into the normal path of said actuator to effect displacement of said actuator on rotation thereof.

7. In a calculating machine, registering mechanism, an actuator therefor comprising a driving element adjustable in the plane of its driving movement, driving means for said actuator, and means comprising a plurality of members settable by said driving means for effecting adjustment of said element.

8. In a calculating machine, registering mechanism, an actuator therefor comprising a driving element adjustable in the plane of its driving movement, a plurality of settable members for effecting adjustment of said element, driving means for said actuator, and differentially settable means operable by said driving means for enabling'one or more of said settable members.

9. In a calculating machine, registering mechanism, an actuator therefor comprising a driving element adjustable in the plane of its driving movement, a plurality of settable members for effecting adjustment of said element, driving means for said actuator, differentially settable means operable by said driving means for enabling one or more of said settable members, and manually settable means for setting said differentially settable means.

10. In a calculating machine, registering mechanism, an actuator therefor comprising an adjustable driving element, a plurality of settable members for effecting adjustment of said element, differentially settable means for enabling one or more of said settable members, and drivingmeans for said actuator controlling enabling of said settable members by said differentially settable means.

11. In a calculating machine, registering mechanism, an actuator therefor including an adjustable element, driving means for said actuator, a plurality of settable members for effecting adjustment of said element, differentially settable means for enabling one or more of said settable members at a time, and means for enabling said differentially settable means to enable said settable members upon operation of said driving means.

CARL M. F. FRIDEN. 

